Written by

C.L. Brown

The Courier-Journal

Paul Hornung recalls some of his first memories of the Kentucky Derby as a mischievous 13-year-old who lied about his age so he could serve as an usher at Churchill Downs.

“And they’re off,” not only signaled thoroughbreds storming out the gate, it sent Louisville native Hornung and a couple friends furiously weaving through the grandstands.

“We’d go up and down the row and steal the glasses when everyone stood up to watch the race,” said Hornung, the Heisman Trophy winner and Green Bay Packer great. “Then we’d go outside and sell them for three bucks.”

Back then, Hornung never dreamed he’d actually have a chance to own a horse in the Derby. Today he does have a chance at least, depending on how Titletown Five does in tonight’s 89th running of the $175,000-added Derby Trial as Churchill opens for its spring-summer meeting.

The one-mile, Grade III stakes is the final race on the Road to the Kentucky Derby. The Derby Trial has a 10:42 p.m. post time. The top four finishers receive points on a 20-8-4-2 scale.

Trainer Todd Pletcher has entered Capo Bastone and Fortytales in the nine horse field. Capo Bastone, who finished third in last fall’s Breeders’ Cup Juvenile at Santa Anita, could give Pletcher a record six entrants in next week’s Derby with a win in the Trial. (That number could grow to seven if Lexington winner Winning Cause gets in the 20-horse field.)

“Right now we’re not thinking about it as a Derby prep,” Pletcher said. “We’ll see how he runs and who knows what could happen, but right now we’re not looking at it that way.”

D. Wayne Lukas, the trainer of Titletown Five, certainly is.

Titletown Five needs a first place finish to position himself among the top 20 points leaders for the Derby field. Hornung said there would be nothing more thrilling for his ownership group than to win and then run in the Derby.

“I would be so tickled for them, I mean it would just be unbelievable to buy one horse and get him here,” said Lukas, who has known Hornung for more than 30 years. “I’d love to see it whether we’re 100-1 or 1-9, it wouldn’t make any difference for Paul to have that experience, it would be great.”

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The NFL Hall of Famer teamed up with former Packer teammate Willie Davis and Packer board member Ed Martin in a partnership. David Miller, son of Hornung’s former Flaget High School coach Paulie Miller, is also a part-owner.

“Wayne always knew I wanted to get in on a Derby horse that would be my biggest thrill in history,” Hornung said. “We got a shot, we still got a shot.”

The name Titletown Five is both in honor of Green Bay’s nickname, Hornung’s former jersey number and the five championship titles won under legendary coach Vince Lombardi. Lukas, a Wisconsin native who grew up a Packers fan, said Titletown Five was a horse Lombardi would have loved.

“He does everything textbook, everything,” Lukas said. “He’s got the best mind, a lot of ability, but boy, just a joy to train. His disposition and everything is just wonderful. Absolutely the best I got in the barn in that area.”

Hornung pointed out that Titletown Five beat Orb, who has the most Derby qualifying points, in a maiden race at Saratoga. His confidence comes from Lukas believing in the potential of the 3-year-old colt.

“This would be the greatest thing that’s ever happened to me,” Hornung said. “I guess part of it is we won so many championships, case closed every year. We were favored to win the championship and looking back it was kind of easy a lot of times for us. This is much harder.”